Man accused of driving recklessly, assault during parade
ASHLAND, Maine (AP) — Police in the northern Maine town of Ashland say a 21-year-old man has been arrested on charges of driving recklessly during a parade in town, assaulting two fire department members and resisting arrest.
Police say they received a report on Saturday morning of a vehicle operating recklessly trying to get through the Ashland Days Parade. Emergency responders said a fire department member who was on foot was hit by the vehicle while trying to stop it. Police say the vehicle also struck another firefighter.
Police were able to stop the vehicle and take the keys but say the driver resisted arrest. He was eventually restrained and taken to the Aroostock County Jail where he was being held on $5,000 bail. It wasn’t known if he’s being represented by an attorney.
Thunderstorms batter New England; thousands without power
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Thunderstorms have battered parts of New England, downing trees and causing power outages for thousands in Maine.
The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch Saturday for counties in southern Maine and southern and central New Hampshire. In the evening, all the watches were canceled.
Earlier in the day, there was a severe storm warning for parts of western Massachusetts.
The Portland Press Herald reports that more than 18,000 customers in Maine were without power at one point. That number was dropping as service was restored. York and Lincoln countries were particularly affected.
Lightning strikes downed trees in some areas in Maine, and heavy rains slowed traffic. The Portland International Jetport said in a tweet that some flights were delayed or canceled because of the weather.
Feds boosting suicide prevention support for Maine tribes
BANGOR, Maine (AP) — The federal government is providing funding to Maine to help prevent youth suicide, including in Native American populations.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is awarding more than $700,000 each to Wabanaki Health and Wellness in Bangor and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. Wabanaki Health is an agency that helps Native Americans with services such as health and housing.
Independent Sen. Angus King and Republican Sen. Susan Collins say the funding will support youth suicide prevention programs in the state. Maine will use its money for a grant program designed to support early intervention strategies in venues such as schools and juvenile justice systems.
Voters with disabilities could get help signing petitions
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Voters whose disabilities prevent them from signing petitions for citizen initiatives could have alternative ways to express their support under a proposed constitutional amendment.
Maine voters will consider such a constitutional amendment Nov. 5.
Democratic Rep. Bruce White says the constitutional requirement that such signatures must be made by the voter themselves poses an “obvious problem” for those who are quadriplegic, or have Parkinson’s or lack hands.
White says the amendment would give lawmakers the choice to allow alternatives such as self-inking stampers or proxies.
A 2005 Maine law gave individuals with physical disabilities such choices when registering to vote or signing candidate petitions.
But election officials later said Maine would need to amend its constitution to allow such a process for a direct initiative and people’s veto petitions.
Maine law intended to crack down on young child expulsion
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A new law in Maine is designed to prevent young children from being suspended or expelled from schools.
Democratic Gov. Janet Mills has signed “An Act To Promote Social and Emotional Learning and Development for Young Children” into law. The proposal by Democratic Sen. Cathy Breen of Falmouth is intended to cut down on suspension and expulsion rates by providing a consultation program for teachers and parents of young children.
Senate Democrats say the proposal will create a voluntary program that makes consultants with advanced training in mental health and child development available to help “contain the impact of challenging behaviors in the classroom.” The Democrats say Maine has the second highest rate of preschool student expulsion in the country, and that causes disruptions in the education of the children.
More local food available in Maine cafeterias under new law
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Supporters of a new Maine law say it will improve access to fresh produce for school children by encouraging public schools to purchase local food.
The proposal from Democratic Sen. Eloise Vitelli of Arrowsic was signed into law by Gov. Janet Mills in late June and will go into effect on Sept. 19. Senate Democrats say more Maine students will be able to eat fresh fruits and vegetables because of the law change.
Vitelli says the new law will make it easier for farmers in the state to find buyers for their produce. She says the change is designed for “the benefit of our local growers and children.”
The law provides money and staffing necessary for schools and nutrition directors to have the ability to purchase and serve the food.
Our Katahdin to pay IRS settlement on former mill site
MILLINOCKET, Maine (AP) — An economic development organization has settled a $1.5 million debt to the IRS that was an impediment to marketing Millinocket’s former Great Northern Paper Co. mill site to tenants.
The Bangor Daily News reports that Our Katahdin agreed to pay $450,000 to remove the lien. The nonprofit bought the former mill site for a dollar from former owner Cate Street Capital LLC.
Sean DeWitt, president of Our Katahdin, said the lien caused a North Carolina firm to back out of a $30 million production facility for cross-laminated lumber.
Our Katahdin has raised $90,000 already to put toward repaying the IRS debt. Once the full $450,000 settlement is paid, Our Katahdin will receive a $5.3 million U.S. Economic Development Administration grant for infrastructure improvements.
Game wardens investigate death of man found in boat
WAYNE, Maine (AP) — Maine game wardens are investigating the death of a man found in his motorboat on Pocasset Lake in Wayne.
Authorities say a lake resident spotted what appeared to be an abandoned boat floating near the shore on Saturday morning. Game wardens say the boat contained the body of 33-year-old Christopher Brown of Wayne. They say the boat appeared to have contacted rocks just under the water surface.
Brown was last seen leaving a nearby gathering with friends late Friday evening.
Maine woman dies while smoking on oxygen
AUBURN, Maine (AP) — Maine authorities say an Auburn woman has died in a fire caused by her smoking while she was on oxygen.
Maine State Police say the body of 65-year-old Denise Fraser was found in her bedroom by her husband on Friday night when he had returned home from work.
Authorities say the fire damage was confined to the bed.
Fraser had been on oxygen for a heart ailment.
Collins joins push to address maternal, infant mortality
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine’s Republican U.S. senator is working on a push to address maternal and infant mortality in the U.S.
Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan are introducing a bill to fund regional care partnerships to curb the rate of deaths of mothers and babies. They say the partnerships would link states, health care providers, insurance companies and others to build new strategies to improve outcomes for woman and infants.
Collins says states have taken the lead on the issue by “sharing best practices and developing comprehensive health care plans for mothers and their children.” She says her Quality Care for Moms and Babies Act would authorize funding that supports existing collaborations and helps create new ones.
Collins says the proposal would also help improve Medicaid progress monitoring.